NHL Playoffs Expert Picks: Early Exit For The Capitals

It's time. The Stanley Cup is being polished, the series are locked in as the NHL playoffs begin.

Just like the players, our team is taking no days off either. Michel Anderson and I will be giving picks for every playoff game this season.

Read all of our picks or jump ahead to the game you're most interested in: 

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Rolling Records
Michel: 17-10 (+2.44 Units)
Josie: 13-14 (-0.14 Units)

Game 4: Jets vs colorado 
The Game: Winnipeg Jets vs Colorado Avalanche, 2:30 PM ET

Winnipeg Jets vs Colorado Avalanche Series Preview

Michel's Take: Colorado has seen the total go OVER ten times in their last 12 games, including all three games so far in this series.

Winnipeg hasn't been the defensive juggernaut we expected them to be giving up 3.64 goals above expected (or 1.21 per game). That's way off from the -0.65 xG above expected per game in the regular season.

I also don't trust Georgiev's 0.926 SV% in his last two starts. At home this year he's still an awful 0.902SV% and 2.75GAA. I say we still see a ton of goals in Game 4.

Josie's Take: After a back-and-forth series opener, Colorado has finally taken the reins on this matchup. In their last two outings, the Avs have outscored the Jets 11-4 and taken advantage of a shaky Hellebuyck, who is posting a brutal 5.05 GAA.

Meanwhile, Georgiev has learned from his mistakes and completely adjusted, stopping 50 of 54 shots across his last two performances. Continuing at Ball Arena, where Colorado is a commanding 32-9-1, I like the Avs to snatch another win at home tonight. 

Michel's Pick: OVER 6.5 (-120)
Josie's Pick: Colorado ML (-166)

Game 4: canucks vs predators
The Game: Vancouver Canucks vs Nashville Predators, 5 PM ET

Vancouver Canucks vs Nashville Predators Series Preview

Michel's Take: I still have no faith in Casey DeSmith in nets for Vancouver. Stopping 29 of 30 is a form of beginner's luck for the Canucks backup. After scoring two power-play goals in the opening 25 minutes, Vancouver went into a defensive shell and was lucky to concede only once.

No such luck today I'm afraid.

Nashville has only dropped back-to-back home games six times over 20 tries this year (70%). And they usually win big. Of their 14 wins in this context, Nashville has won by at least two goals nine times. I'm going to be brave and say not only do the Preds win but they cover the puckline too.

Josie's Take: Wow, Casey DeSmith must have seen that motivational video circulating social media ahead of Game 3. The 32-year-old rocked a .967SV% and allowed the Preds just one goal in the win.

casey desmith after having 3 people online telling him to "lock in" https://t.co/QxbARRGRCk pic.twitter.com/4uZZgjgq0M

— x - avier (@dicnowder) April 24, 2024

Maybe we should make a video for Juuse Saros now. It was embarrassing watching him give up two goals across just 12 total shots. 

First things first, the Canucks cannot expect to win every game with the bare minimum offensive effort. But, if 12 shots earns two goals, then I'm sure Nashville will tighten up the defense. 

Michel's Pick: Nashville -1.5 (+205)
Josie's Pick: UNDER 5.5 (-105)

Game 4: Rangers vs capitals
The Game: NY Rangers vs Washington Capitals, 8 PM ET

NY Rangers vs Washington Capitals Series Preview

Michel's Take: GET THE BROOMS OUT! We've got a sweep on our hands.

The only hope Washington had in their series was their discipline. They rarely took penalties this season. Keeping up with that would have kept the Rangers red-hot power play off the ice. Giving the Rangers and average of four PP opportunities per game is not "discipline".

Naturally, the Rangers have responded with three goals on those 12 opportunities for a 25% efficiency.

And with what happened between that goonish-plug Matt Rempe and TVR, the Caps are going to be looking for a pound of flesh. We're likely to see that Rangers PP a lot and put this series to bed.

Josie's Take: I was convinced we'd see a sweep last night, but both the Islanders and Lightning live to see another day. Yet, I'm calling it again tonight -- first sweep of the postseason. 

Washington has had no answers for Igor Shesterkin, who has allowed just five goals across three games to carry a 1.67 GAA and .933SV%. The Caps got nothing, plain and simple.

Michel's Pick: Rangers ML (-192)
Josie's Pick: Rangers -1.5 (+140)

Game 4: oilers vs Kings
The Game: Edmonton Oilers vs LA Kings, 10:30 PM ET

Edmonton Oilers vs LA Kings Series Preview

Michel's Take: I didn't think the Kings were going to have an answer after getting thumped 7-4 in Game 1, but they got back up and won Game 2 in OT. I'm sure they'll have some sort of answer in Game 4 following that 6-1 thrashing.

After losing by at least three goals in their previous meeting, the Kings are 1-2SU in their next game. What's key for us, is that all three games were won or lost by a single goal. I'm not confident the Kings win tonight, but covering a +1.5 puckline? Yeah, I'm confident in that.

Josie's Take: The Kings' defense, which was top three during the regular season, has evaporated. The last thing you want to do is give the already talented Oilers a confidence boost. 

If you're LA, you need to be worried. That 6-1 win got the wrong people fueled up as Draisaitl, McDavid and Hyman all racked up goals and points. Not to mention, Stuart Skinner will be standing taller between the pipes as his recent .964SV% must have his shoulders feeling lighter. 

Michel's Pick: Kings +1.5 (-198)
Josie's Pick: OVER 6.5 (-105)